The Opinel Guide to Knife Types

Whether you’re cooking up a new sauce in the kitchen or getting ready for a weekend camping trip, the right type of knife makes things feel easier and more enjoyable. Each style of knife is specially designed to do a certain job—whether it’s slicing and dicing in the kitchen or filleting fish by the lake. 

While we can’t promise that your soufflé will never fall, we can promise that choosing the right blade will make your culinary and outdoor experiences feel a whole lot smoother. In this guide, we’ll take a closer look at different knife types and highlight Opinel’s own take on these tried-and-true tools.

Every kitchen task begins with the right knife in hand. Whether you’re cooking a gourmet meal or preparing a simple snack, you need to know the purpose of each knife so you can have the best experience in the kitchen. Opinel’s range of kitchen essentials combines timeless design with practical functionality and makes every cut feel effortless and every prep session a joy. Let's take a look at some of the most popular kitchen knives.

The chef's knife is often considered the go-to in any kitchen. It's made to handle everything from mincing garlic to cutting through a roast. With its wide, slightly curved blade, you can rock it back and forth to chop veggies in record time or slice through a thick piece of steak like it's nobody’s business. If you're unsure what type of knife you need, the chef's knife is usually the default.

The Les Forgés 1890 6" Chef Knife is one of our best examples of this design philosophy. It's made with a High Carbon Stainless Steel blade for easy care. It has an ergonomic beech wood handle that has been treated for improved water resistance. The knife ensures a comfortable and secure grip, which makes it an irreplaceable cutting tool for amateur cooks and seasoned chefs alike.

Borrowed from the Japanese knife tradition, the Santoku knife is ideal for slicing, dicing, and chopping with minimal effort. You can think of it as a close cousin to the chef’s knife but with a distinct blade shape—a flatter and often thicker blade. It's excellent for precise cuts. 

Whether you’re working on thin slices of veggies or delicate cuts of meat, a Santoku brings a smooth, controlled feel to your prep work. Many cooks find it quickly becomes their everyday kitchen favorite. If you want to try it out, you can't go wrong with the Les Forgés 1890 7" Santoku Knife. The high carbon stainless steel blade is easy to sharpen and a pleasure to use. Best of all—the dimples prevent ingredients from sticking to your knife, and the heat-treated beech wood handle makes it water-resistant and easy to maintain.

When you’re aiming for precision—like peeling fruit, hulling strawberries, or creating those pretty vegetable garnishes—the paring knife takes center stage. Its shorter blade lets you tackle delicate tasks without the awkwardness of handling a bigger knife. 

TheIntempora 3" Paring Knife is a crowd favorite for just that reason. Its stainless steel blade is easy to maintain, and the ergonomic design makes it both nimble and reliable. Every time you find yourself coring apples or trimming veggies, you’ll be glad to have a paring knife at the ready.

Some tasks call for a knife with a specialized edge, specifically forged to handle unique challenges. Whether you're carving intricate cuts, slicing through crusty loaves, or spreading creamy butter, the right specialty knife can make your life a lot easier. Opinel’s collection of specialty knives combines precision and thoughtful design and ensures every tool is up to the task.

A boning knife isthe specialist for meat and fish. It offers a thin, rigid blade that can slide around bones and joints without leaving any precious meat behind. Think about removing the bones from chicken thighs or trimming the fat off a roast—those detailed cuts feel easier and cleaner with a blade designed just for the job. 

It doesn't matter if it's Sunday roasts or grilled fish, a boning knife can help reduce waste and improve the end result of your hard work in the kitchen. If you're eager to try it out, we recommend the Parallele 5" Boning Knife. The blade is short and rigid, making it perfect to get to those hard-to-reach places and maneuver around the bones to get the most out of your cut.

A carving knife is the perfect tool for slicing through roasts, poultry, and large cuts of meat with precision and ease. Sometimes, people confuse it with a butcher knife, but those are bigger and used for heavy-duty tasks. The carving knife has a long, narrow blade designed to create clean and even slices without tearing the meat. This ensures your dishes look as good as they taste. Whether carving a Thanksgiving turkey or a Sunday roast, this knife helps you take your presentation to the next level.

The Les Forgés 1890 6" Carving Knife takes this essential design even further. It's forged from a single piece of X50CrMoV15 high carbon stainless steel and offers incredible durability and balance. The ergonomic beech wood handle, treated for water resistance, provides a comfortable and secure grip. With its sleek design and outstanding performance, this knife is a must-have for anyone looking to perfect their carving skills.

There’s something about a warm loaf of crusty bread that begs to be sliced perfectly. Enter the bread knife, with its long, serrated blade that cuts through crunchy exteriors and keeps your soft interior intact. No more smashed baguettes or squashed focaccia. 

Our Parallele Serrated 8" Bread Knife blends precision and comfort, with a durable serrated edge that remains sharp for ages. If you love baking your own bread or frequently serve up pastries and cakes, this knife is your trusty companion.

When it comes to spreading butter, jams, or soft cheeses, the Essential Spreading Knife is an excellent choice. A butter knife designed with a wide, rounded stainless steel blade, it ensures even application and smooth performance. The comfortable handle adds a touch of elegance to your breakfast table or charcuterie board, making it a favorite for casual and special occasions. A variety of colorful hornbeam handles gives you more options if you’re looking for a specific look.

If you’re more of a seafood enthusiast, a fillet knife is tailor-made for you. Its slim blade helps you glide along fish bones and under the skin to carve beautiful, clean fillets. 

From delicate salmon to hearty catfish, this specialized knife gets you that neat, restaurant-worthy finish. It’s also an excellent choice for portioning thin cuts of meat or trimming away excess fat—basically, anytime you need a little finesse in your cut.

And speaking of finesse, this is the design philosophy behind the Intempora 7" Fillet Knife. The knife's thin blade makes preparing your fish a delight.

Sometimes, the great outdoors is the best kitchen you can ask for. When adventure calls, the right knife ensures you’re prepared for whatever the outdoors throws your way. From hiking trails to camping trips, Opinel’s range of outdoor and utility knives combines functionality, durability, and timeless design. Our tools are forged to handle nature's whims and make your life easier.

Compact, safe, and ready for action, the folding knife earning a spot in your backpack or pocket is a no-brainer. At Opinel, our iconic No.08 Folding Knife gives modern folding knives a run for their money. It's been a trusty companion to generations of adventurers and campers, thanks to its simple yet effective folding mechanism and the signature Virobloc safety ring that locks the blade in place. Whether carving a marshmallow stick or slicing up ingredients for a campsite lunch, pocket knives like the No.08 make things a whole lot easier.

For mushroom foragers, the Opinel No.08 Mushroom Knife is a must-have. Featuring a curved stainless steel blade for precise harvesting and a natural boar bristle brush for cleaning, this lightweight tool is crafted to make your mushroom harvesting productive and enjoyable. Whether you’re picking chanterelles or porcini, this knife helps you gather and clean your finds with ease.

If you have a bit of a green thumb, you'll love the Opinel No.08 Pruning Knife. It's designed with a sharp, curved blade to tackle stems, branches, and vines effortlessly. Its ergonomic beech wood handle ensures a comfortable grip, which makes it an essential tool for everything from trimming roses to shaping hedges. This versatile knife turns garden maintenance into a seamless task.

The Opinel No.12 Folding Saw is perfect for larger gardening challenges. With its carbon steel-toothed blade, this compact saw slices cleanly through thicker branches and stems. Its folding design makes it easy to carry and store, and offers a practical solution for pruning trees, managing your yard, or taking it on your next camping trip.

Every knife owes its effectiveness to the blade it carries. From the classic straight edge to the serrated design, each blade type is forged for a specific purpose. Understanding these differences will help you choose the right knife for your needs.

A straight-edge blade is the most classic design you’ll see on many chef’s and paring knives. It delivers a clean cut through softer ingredients, so you can slice tomatoes or chicken breasts without tearing. 

If you love that smooth, gliding motion when slicing cucumbers or carrots, the straight edge is precisely what you’re looking for. Opinel’s Intempora 8" Chef Knife and No.112 Paring Knife illustrate this versatility perfectly.

When you spot a row of tooth-like grooves along the blade, you’re looking at a serrated edge. It’s especially handy for cutting through foods that have a tough or crusty exterior and a soft inside—like loaves of bread or ripe tomatoes. 

Opinel’s No.116 Bread Knife is a great example. It makes quick work of crusts without crushing the fluffy goodness inside.

Curved edges often pop up on mushroom and pruning knives, where a little flexibility comes in handy. These blades are perfect for cutting hard-to-reach places without sacrificing quality. Whether you’re picking mushrooms in the forest or need a blade for quick shrub pruning, a curved edge will always be a trusty companion. 

Figuring out which knife to grab depends on what’s on your menu or in your plan for the day. Preparing fruit salad? You’ll probably want the paring knife. Slicing into a crusty French loaf for dinner? A bread knife makes it effortless. Heading into the woods for a weekend getaway? Tuck a folding knife in your pocket before you set out. 

Opinel offers knives forged to handle all sorts of jobs, and knowing the basics behind each design goes a long way in ensuring you’re picking the right tool for the task. If you’re a fan of efficiency, matching the correct knife to the job at hand will make everything feel easy and fun.

Knives are more than just cutting tools. Knives are everyday helpers that can turn cooking, gardening, and exploring into experiences you truly look forward to. At Opinel, we believe that a well-crafted knife can bring joy to tasks big and small, whether you're slicing into a juicy tomato or carving that perfect fillet. We're so committed to the quality of our knives and tools that we offer a limited lifetime warranty for all Opinel products. In the event of a manufacturer's defect or workmanship, Opinel will exchange the products affected. Ready to get your first (or newest) Opinel?